Monogram



Patented Oct. Z4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEy 3 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in monograms of thecharacter which are formed as individual units and then bodily appliedto a support surface.

The term monogram is used for descriptive convenience only and isintended to include letters, numerals, symbols, decorative devices oridentifying characters or indicia of any nature whatsoever. Theso-called support lmember to which the monograms are applied may formpart of any of an infinite variety of devices, typical examples of whichare cigarette cases, vanity cases, escutcheon plates, automobile doors,rings, plaques of glass, celluloid or metal etc.

An object of the invention is to provide a monogram which will, whenapplied, realistically simulate an inlay.

Another object is to provide a monogram adapted to be adhesively securedto the support by a non-Water solvent adhesive material permanentlycarried by the monogram so that the monograms when attached to a supportmay be exposed to the Weather without danger of dislodgement.Furthermore the adhesively coated monograms may be kept in stockindefinitely Without deterioration of the adhesive. J

Another object is to provide a metal monogram with adhesive material soarranged on its back that when the adhesive is treated with a solventand the monogram pressed against its support, it will adhere tenaciouslynot only because of the adhesive .qualities of the cement but because ofthe fact that the adhesiveI is so applied that it forms ridges definingone or more suction pockets which strongly oppose removal of themonogram. Typically such pockets are formed by a ridge of adhesivematerial which follows the contourof the monogram and coacts with thethinner layer of adhesive on the body of the monogram to afford a sealedpocket when all of the edges of the monogram are pressed into contactwith its support surface. p

Another object is to provide a monogram which is extremely difcult topry loose from its support due to the fact that the metal of themonogram is so thin and the adhesive material is so thin that they offerno edge surface which may be struck -`a hammer blow and the adhesivefilled space between the edges of the monogram and the support surfaceis so extremely thin that it is difficult to wedge even a sharp edgedtool between the monogram and support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a monogram inherentlycapable of clinging to its support surface even though said surfaceitself be slightly flexed and a monogram which is expensive constructionwhich will be extremely y neat and attractive in appearance and whichthough made of base metal, will when in applied position simulate anexpensive precious metal inlay.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the monogramsare made of extremely thin bendable metal. They may be stamped, but arepreferably etched from metal stock of a thickness in the order of notmore than .005 to .O15 inches. A very thin'layer of non- Water solubleadhesive or cement is applied to the backs of the monograms in such afashion that ridges in the adhesive material-coact to define one or morepockets. A typical arrangement is to provide a ridge of adhesivematerial which follows the entire periphery of the monogram and` iselevated with respect to the thinner layer of adhesive covering the mainbody portion of the monogram or a series of criss-crossing ridges whencooperatively defining a series of such pockets.

The monograms with their coated backs may be kept in stock indefinitelyby a retailer who applies them as required, to the articles ofmerchandise which he may be--vselling. In order to applythem, it ismerely necessary to brush them lightly with a solvent for-the adhsiveand press them manually against the support upon which they are to bemounted. This manual pressure is suiicient to cause all of the adhesiveridges to rmly adhere to the support and todene between the ridgesevacuated spacesof minute thickness which insure a suction cup actionsupplementing the action of the adhesive material itself in restrainingthe monograms against inadvertent dislodgement.

On the other hand, if it becomes desirable to interchange monograms, theintroduction of an extremely sharp pointed instrument to break the seal,permits the monograms to be readil stripped from their support. 1

When vthese extremely thin monograms are mounted upon a contrastinglycolored background, a most realistic simulation of an inlay is obtained,that is to say, the thickness of the monograms at their edges is sonegligible that they appear to be actually embedded in the article uponthe surface of which they are mounted.

In the present application I have claimed only the special suction cupeffect obtained by the novel method of arranging the adhesive andregardless-oi whether this adhesive be applied to a thin initial orathick one, all of the remaining Fig. 3 is an enlarged pian view of therear face of the monogram and Fig'. d is a further enlarged View on theline d--el of Fig. 3 with the thicmess of the monogram material and theadhesive material greatly exaggerated.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown my improved vmonogram applied to aconventional metal cigarette case consisting of two hinged sectionsill-10 which cooperatively form a pocket for the cigarettes when closedby snap latch l1. It is characteristic of such cases that they areslightly flexible and that at often ltimes, all surfaces of them` areslightly convex. Such slight convexity or such slight flexibility willnot impair the security of attachment of my improved monograms. The

monogram illustrated consists of three letters 12,

encircled by a decorative ring or frame 13.

A typical letter is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Such letter is etchedfrom 4an. extremely thin gauge bendable sheet metal stock say in theorder oi .005 to '.015 inches in thicmess and adhesive material such asa waterproof cement 1d is applied upon the back of the letter 12, insuch a fashion that the adhesive/material forms a ridge l l5 followingthe entire periphery oiL the letter.

Thus, when'the adhesive is softened by the application oi a suitablesolvent and the letter is pressedagainst the supporting surface affordedby the cigarette case, the entire area of the letf ter which is connedwithin the peripheral ridge l5 will cooperate with the supportingsurface to define an evacuated chber giving a highly efiective` suctioncup action.

While I may form a ridge of adhesive along the edges of the letters, itis within the scope of the invention to form criss-crossing ridges winchwill define a plurality of smaller suction cups or pockets, ii desired.The monogrammay be made of bright or dull metal stoel.: or chrome metalnish or may be plated or enameled, the primary consideration being thatthe `metal with its enamel or plating be extremely thin and where enamelor plating is used, it be ci a nature which will not crack upon slightbending of the monogram which occurs when the monogram is secured to itsslightly convex or slightlyconcave surface.

:While it is within'the scope oi the invention to stamp monograms ofsheet stock/I prefer to form the moncgs by an etching process whichincludes the steps of painting the letters with lacquer upon a metalstrip or sheet -or otherwise covering the strip with an -acid proofmaterial of the same shape as the proposed letters, and then applying anacid to the metal sheet, the acid eating away 'the metal between theacid impervious portions thereof to form the letters. Subsequently thelacquer is removed.

It `will be understood that the decorative iframe i3l is formed ofsimilar stoclr orsimilarly `plated and that the adhesive on its rearsurface is also arranged to form criss-crossing ridges or two annularridges at the inner and outer edge oi' the ring. Such ridges cooperateto dee an ular evacuated space, evacuation being enected by the ualpressure applied to the as it is p mmf home against the support.

Due to the extreme l ress oi the mon m and theextreme t ww, of the ive,th letters when pressed against a surface, particularly one ofcontrasting color, give a hig ma istic simulation of an inlay ciprecious metal. This is due to the fact that the 111,: oi the lettersare so extremely thin that the letters 1.- r' to lie iiush with thesurface upon which they mounted. i

By making these extremely thin letrs of mi ily bendable metal, they willaccoodate themselves to a slightly convex surface-and they will not bedislodged by slight iiexing of the surface upon which they are mounted.

The suction effect obtained is rekable considering the thinness of theevacuated space. It is seemingly impossible to dislodgefthese letters byan edgewise thrust but if a very sharp instrulll@ ment is applied underthem and the seal afforded by the ridge of cement is once broken, theletters may be peeled from their supports with the greatest ease and thetell-tale marks on the support show clearly that the letters havevadhered to the support only at their edges and that a t f suction cupactionfhas been had.

The particular .u fe esive mate which is l is not in itself my inventionand there are types of non-water solvent, glues or ents which might beemployed for the p, providing that they may be spread thinly enough onthe backs of the letters. A typical adhesive material suitable for thepurpose consists largely of collcdion with a small amount of shellac andalcohol and a goed solvent for such a cement is benzene.

I do not wish to be limited to any particular metal for the monogramsalthough for simula silver and gold, nickel silver and brass have provenhighly satisfactory.

It will thus be seenvthat there is herein described an article in whichtheseveral features oit this invention are embodied, and which articlein its action attains the various objects ci the invention and is wellsuited to meet the requirements ci practical use.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and manyapparently widely dierent embodiments vof this invention could be f-m-f'without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown inthe accogzupwV w f.:drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense. Y

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent isz- 1. As a new article ci' manufacture, a tbacked monogram of material a nou- -Water soluble adhesive materialsubstantially completely covering its rear surface, a-portion of saidadhesive material forming a raised ridge around the periphery of themonogram whereby to afford a suction cup eiect when a solvent is appliedto the cement and the monogram pressed against a supporting surface.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a at metal monogram carrying anon-water soluble adhesive coating upon its rear face, said coatingbeing s0 MICHAEL CHERNOW.

